Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. W. OARLEY.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Oct. 12

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J/za W52 ff! UNITE/D STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

lJOHN W. OARLEY, OF THORNTON, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPL'ING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,527, dated October 1.2, 1886.

Application filed April 5, 1886. Serial No.197,869. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that .,I, JOHN W. CARLEY, of Thornton, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichn Figure lis ahorizontal section taken on line 1 1, Fig. 4. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is avertical section through the coupling-pin, showing one of the drawbars in end view and the lock in raised position. Fig. 8 is a similar view, taken on line 8 8, Fig. 2, showing the lock in its lower or using position. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 7 7, Fig. 3, showing the lock in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal'section illustrating a modification of the device for opening the jaws.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic car-couplers; and my invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents lparts of the adjacent ends o1' two car-bodies.

B represents the draw-bars provided with enlarged throats C, as shown in Fig. l. W'ithin the throat of each draw-bar are hinged two jaws, D, by means of pintles or pins E, and which are held in their closed position by means of suitable springs, F. The outer ends of the jaws are provided with hooks G, and inside the hooks the jaws are hollowed out, as shown at H, to receive the arrow or conical head I of the coupling-pin J. When the pin is inserted, the conical head comes against the inclined faces of the jaws and forces them open into the position shown on the left-hand side of Fig. l. As soon as the head has entered, the jaws are closed by the springs F clamping the head ofthe pin and holding it rmly in place.

To prevent the jaws releasing the head until it is desiredto uncouple the cars, I provide each draw-bar with a lock consisting of a bar or lever, L, pivoted at L to the bottom of the draw-bar and extending upward between the jaws and through a slot or opening, G, in the draw-bar. To the lupper end of this. lever is hinged, by means of a pin L*, aplate, M, from which extends a U -shaped rod or yoke, M. This yoke, when in the position shown in Fig. 7, and on the right hand of Fig. 2, enters holes N in the top of thedraw-bar and embraces the jaws or clamps D on the outside, thusholding the clamps or jaws from opening until `the lock is raised.

In uncoupling the cars the lock is rst raised by means of v a chain, O, or other suitable means connected to the lock, and which may extend to the top of the car or to any other` place from where it can be reached. When the plate M is raised sufficiently to draw the pin or yoke M from engagement with the jaws, projections N thereon come against a projection, L2, on the lever L, and then the lever is pulled back, and as it is pulled back, lugs or projections .Ls thereon come against the jaws, as

shown in Fig. Land forcethem apart, asshown f on the left-hand side of Fig. l, thus allowing the head of the coupling-pin to be withdrawn. As soon as the pressure or power is removed from the lock, the lock (including the lever) drops into the forward position and the springs F automatically force the jaws into their inner position, ready to receive thc head of the pin when again inserted, as before described, thus making the coupling automatic.

Instead of using the lever and the projections L3 thereon to open the jaws, they may be opened by the use of a simple shaft, Q. (see Fig. 9,) provided with projections Q', which bear against the jaws when shaft Q is turned and force them open. When the pin is inserted. in one of the draw-bars and the jaws closed upon it, yit is held in a horizontal position, so as' to enter the other draw-bar, as the cars are brought together.

With my coupling an ordinary link and pin may be used, and the jaws act in conjunction with the pin to make the coupling automaticthat is, by placing the pin in the ordinarypinhole R, with' which the heads are provided, Aand allowing its inner end to rest upon the closed jaws D (see dotted lines, Fig. 2) it will ILO be supported until the link is forced in between the jaws, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and as the jaws are opened by the link the pin will drop down, passing through the link and coupling 5 the cars. The pin, when the link is used, may

be connected to the plate M of the lock bya chain, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, so as to be lifted to uncouple the cars by lifting the lock, as described for the other form of couplo ling.

I claim as my inventionl. In a car-coupler, the combination of the headed pin, spring-jaws, and lock, consisting of a hinged lever and plate provided with pins 15 which engage with the said spring-jaws when lowered, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination of the headed pin, hinged jaws, and lock, consisting of a hinged lever and plate provided with pins,

zo the lever having projections for opening the jaws when the lock is raised, as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of the headed pin, hinged jaws, and loek consisting of a lever and plate hinged to the lever, the

lever and plate being provided with lugs for JOHN W. GARLEY.

In presence of SAML. KNIGHT, JOSEPH WAHLE. 

